Playing against Alekhine's defence.

3. e5 is answered with 3. ... d4

Beyond that point anything can happen

ok i give up lol - not gonna argue with some1 with a rating higher than me

For what it's worth, I personally play the Exchange variation for this reason.  Perhaps the Modern variation scores slightly better for White, but I find the Exchange variation to be quite straightforward, which still maintaining an edge.

Having played the Alekhines on and off for a while (since 1990) I have some opinions on this.

A) regarding whites positional superiority in the exchange I would say that it's at least debatable. after ed6 I agree that white has a certain (hard to quantify) edge based purely on slightly more space since the pawn-formations are symmetrical, but after cd6 black definitely has certain things going for him, such as an extra central pawn. I don't consider the exchange to be a threat to the overall soundness of the Alekhines but it is definitely a very healthy choice as white since it guarantee a strategically clear battle where whites chances at least are not worse. A few years ago the "Voronezh variation" (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.ed6 cd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3)

was considered by some to almost be a refutation of the cd6-option, but since then there has been found a few key moves to ensure at least equality for black.The classical/Modern (4.Nf3) or 4-pawns are much heavier to take on and require quite some preparation on whites behalf, but are also tougher to face for black. actually I agree with the quote above where Alburt stated that the Modern is the main (not only) threat to the Alekhines

B) I have altered between 2.--d5, 2.--e5 and 2.--d6 after whites 2.Nc3 and think they are all adequate responses. Admittedly the Pirc option is slightly weird considering that the black payer originally preferred a different defence to 1.e4, but it is all the same a viable option. In my view the "best" is probably 2.--e5 since it enters a very sound opening scheme where white has committed his knight to c3. You would be unlucky to run into a white player being an expert in the Vienna or 4-knights after that sequence, rather most white players are playing 2.Nc3 to avoid theory they don't know.

All in all I think the Alekhines is fun, but the classical/modern is a tough nut to crack, regardless of Topalov - Carlsen!

I play the Alekhine's often in blitz, and I've always felt that it gives me good dynamic potential - maybe some super GM as white could sit there and pick through perfect lines that refute it, but I've often found it can lead to a multitude of interesting attacking positions for black, depending on how white tries to defend his center and how black choses to initiate his attack. And again, it's about dynamic potential and not positional play.

I do occaisonally play it in longer time control OTB games because it can freak people out a little - they automatically think you have every possible line memorized and put themselves at a psychological disadvantage. I've had some nice wins with it. BUT you live by the sword you die by the sword. You have to be careful, I think the secret is this - as black, if you get 5 or 6 moves in and are unsure about your position, take the opportunity to transpose into something more ordinary. If you find yourself in something you don't really know, don't be stubborn - accept the invitation into more trodden territory, like four knights vienna stuff. At least try your chances there rather than get into something uncomfortable. But if the opportunity presents itself to destabilize white's position, attack with all you've got! Cause chaos, throw normal positional considerations out the window, sacrifice material if you have to. Make a crack in the foundation then try to bulldoze white over.

@26

"You would be unlucky to run into a white player being an expert in the Vienna or 4-knights after that sequence" ++ It is the other way around. A player who plays the Vienna or the Four Knights will be happy to play 2 Nc3 and transpose to his pet opening.

"The classical/Modern (4.Nf3) or 4-pawns are much heavier to take on and require quite some preparation on whites behalf" ++ The 4-pawns is hard to play without knowledge, but white can play the modern 4 Nf3 naturally without specific knowledge.

@34

10...O-O looks great for black. What does white have for his piece?

Are you SERIOUS?

There is a WALL of Pawns across the board. Black's entire army is stuck on one side of the wall. His King and WHITE'S entire army are stuck on the other side.

Can you actually PLAY chess?...[EDIT: Sorry, that was rude] or did you just ask an engine? This is one of those positions where an engine can't SEE far enough to offer rational advice. It's called "the Horizon problem".

@36

Yes, wall of pawns but a piece down. Black can play 11...c6 to attack the wall of pawns.
What does white do after 10...O-O?

The order of White's attacking moves depends on Black's defense. He will select his moves from this list of priorities:

1) Prevent the d5 or e6 Pawns from falling, to keep Black confined. Prevent a counter-sac on d5 or e6.

2) Swing the Queen's Rook across to the K-side, then play b2-b3 to consolidate.

3) Play h2-h4 to bring the King's Rook into the attack.

4) Mobilize the f1-Bishop, perhaps at d3 or c2 (threatening a Rook sacrifice on h7).

5) Bring ALL of his pieces to the K-side, except for the minimum force required to keep Black confined.

How were you planning to USE Black's extra piece? How will it (or the rest of Black's pieces) get into the game?

The engine tends to mis-evaluate this sort of position, because it cannot see through the lengthy complications and just tries cheapo threats on f7. The vulnerable squares are h7 and g6, not f7.

In case you think I'm just making this crap up...

O'Kelly de Galway vs Golombek (1950) Amsterdam (365chess.com)

O'Kelly de Galway was champion of Belgium. He was a GM, and also a Correspondance Chess grandmaster and the third ICCF World Correspondance Chess Champion.

Golombek was an IM (received the GM title as an old man), and three time British Champion.

I'm sure you are aware that a Correspondance Chess World Champion analyzes positions in FAR greater depth (and to many more moves) than chess.com's website engine.

@39

In that game O'Kelly played 10 h4 instead of 10 Ra3.
11...Bxe6 looks like panic. Why not 11...c6?
White has an attack and black is cramped, but black can gradually disentangle and give back the piece later when it is advantageous.

Here is another variation where white gets a big attack for his piece. In this case black was a strong grandmaster and former world championship candidate, while white was a strong IM, who became GM later.